If you follow music at all, you have probably heard the name d4vd. Just a couple of years ago, he was a teenager making songs on his phone, going viral on TikTok, and landing on the Billboard Hot 100. He seemed like one of the most exciting young artists of his generation.

Then everything changed.

What happened to d4vd is now one of the most searched stories in the world. On April 16, 2026, Los Angeles police arrested the 21 year old singer on suspicion of murdering 14 year old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a teenager whose decomposed body was found in the trunk of a Tesla registered to him back in September 2025. He is currently being held without bail.

This article walks you through the full timeline: who d4vd is, how his career rose, what the investigation uncovered, and where things stand today. There is a lot to unpack.

Who Is d4vd? A Quick Look at His Rise to Fame

Before you can understand what happened to d4vd, you need to know who he is and where he came from.

His real name is David Anthony Burke, and he got his start uploading Fortnite gaming montages online. To avoid copyright issues with music used in those videos, he started creating his own original songs, blending lo-fi pop, R&B, and indie rock. Wikipedia He released his music to SoundCloud, and things snowballed quickly from there.

He released two singles in 2022 to set the stage for his debut EP, Petals to Thorns. The first single was “Romantic Homicide,” which dropped in July 2022 and went viral on TikTok, eventually peaking at No. 33 on the Billboard Hot 100. Billboard

That kind of breakthrough at such a young age is genuinely rare. He was not signed to a major label when that happened. He was just a kid with a phone and an idea.

He told Benny Blanco during an interview for Hero magazine, “I’m like crying to Mom about it. I’m like, Yo, I don’t know what to do, I’m not making any money anymore.” His mother simply told him to go make his own music. E! News That advice changed everything.

By 2025, he had accumulated 3.6 million TikTok followers and released his debut studio album, Withered, in April 2025. Wikipedia He was in the middle of a world tour. He performed at Coachella. He collaborated with Kali Uchis. He was, by every measure, on top of the world.

Then September 8, 2025 arrived.

The Discovery That Stunned the World

On September 8, a decomposed body was found inside the trunk of an impounded Tesla. Authorities identified the remains using forensics and determined the body belonged to Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a teenager who had been reported as missing and was last seen in April 2024. Billboard

The Los Angeles Police Department was called to a tow yard in Hollywood over reports of a foul odor coming from a vehicle. The car was registered to d4vd. E! News

Let that sink in for a moment. A body was found in a car that belonged to a 20 year old pop star who was actively on tour at the time.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed on September 16 that the remains found in the Tesla were identified as Celeste Rivas Hernandez, who had been reported missing on April 5, 2024. She was 13 years old at the time of her disappearance. E! News

Her body was dismembered, and the process of dismembering and disposing of her body is believed to have likely involved more than one person. ABC7 San Francisco

Who Was Celeste Rivas Hernandez?

Celeste deserves to be more than a footnote in someone else’s story.

Celeste Abigail Rivas Hernandez was a 14 year old girl from Lake Elsinore, California. Born to parents who immigrated from El Salvador, she was reported missing three times in the final year of her life, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office. She last ran away in April 2024 and last contacted her family in May 2024. Wikipedia

Surveillance footage and digital evidence later revealed that Rivas was still alive in September 2024 and January 2025. Wikipedia That means she was alive for months after she disappeared, which raises deeply troubling questions.

Celeste Rivas’ community of Lake Elsinore held a vigil on September 21, 2025. Community members told the Los Angeles Times, among other things, that “She deserves justice.” Billboard

She was found one day after what would have been her 15th birthday.

The Investigation: What Investigators Uncovered

The investigation moved quickly in the days following the discovery of Celeste’s body. Here is a breakdown of the key findings.

The Search of Burke’s Hollywood Hills Home

On September 18, 2025, LAPD investigators executed a search warrant at a Hollywood Hills property previously occupied by Burke. Electronic materials, including a computer, were seized. Wikipedia

A private investigator hired by the property owner reported finding a “burn cage” incinerator on the property. Burke’s manager terminated the property’s lease shortly after the search, and he moved out. Wikipedia

That detail caught a lot of people’s attention. A burn cage found at a suspect’s home, shortly after a body is discovered in his car, is exactly the kind of thing investigators pay close attention to.

Photos, Tattoos, and Digital Evidence

After the discovery of Rivas’s body, photographs allegedly showing them together surfaced. Rivas’s mother stated that her daughter had a boyfriend named “David,” and Rivas and Burke had matching tattoos. Rivas’s brother told NBCLA that she went missing after Burke picked her up in his Tesla. Wikipedia

A CNN investigation found that Rivas repeatedly appeared in Burke’s orbit before and after she was reported missing for the first time in February of 2024. She was just 13 years old when she appeared alongside Burke in a livestream video shot in the early hours of the morning from inside a West Hollywood home linked to the entertainer. CNN

A private investigator hired by the owner of the property uncovered a digital camera inside the house with photos of both Rivas and Burke taken in late December of 2024 and early January of 2025. CNN

The Discord Message That Now Looks Very Different

One of the most unsettling details of this whole story involves a message on Discord.

In the summer of 2024, Burke posted on social media that he was experiencing writer’s block. Within minutes, one of his followers on Discord offered a specific suggestion: “Drop the one with the missing girl Celeste Rivas Hernandez.” Burke did not reply to this message. CNN

At the time, that message seemed strange. Looking back now, it reads very differently.

Rivas was allegedly a member of Burke’s official server in the messaging app Discord as early as 2022, evidenced by the presence of a user with the username “Celeste,” whom other users at the time referred to as Burke’s girlfriend. Wikipedia

The Santa Barbara Trip

LAPD investigators focused on a trip to Santa Barbara County in spring 2025 by Burke and its potential relationship to the case. Sources reported that she may have died in spring 2025. Wikipedia That timing is significant, and investigators have been looking closely at what happened during that trip.

The Grand Jury and Growing Legal Pressure

As 2025 wound down, the legal noose around Burke tightened considerably.

On November 26, the Los Angeles Times confirmed that an investigative grand jury had been convened over the course of November to hear evidence regarding possibly recommending charges relating to the case of Rivas’s death. Grand jury proceedings remain ongoing, and investigators reportedly questioned executives at Burke’s record label. Wikipedia

NBC Los Angeles reported that by November 18, Burke was no longer cooperating with law enforcement. Variety That is a significant shift. Earlier, his spokesperson had said he was “fully cooperating with authorities.”

On November 21, 2025, the LAPD obtained a court order to place a security hold on the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s case file for Rivas, preventing the release of any details, including the cause and manner of death. Wikipedia That kind of sealed file in an active murder investigation is unusual, and it signals how seriously law enforcement was treating the case.

The Arrest: April 16, 2026

The moment everyone had been waiting for came on April 16, 2026.

D4vd was arrested shortly after 4:30 p.m. at a house on Marmont Avenue in the Hollywood Hills. NBC News

According to the LAPD, d4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, was arrested by the Robbery-Homicide Division for the murder of Hernandez and is being held without bail. The case will be presented to the District Attorney’s office for filing consideration. Variety

Sources told ABC News the arrest is based on evidence and probable cause that was developed. It was not an indictment. ABC7 That distinction matters. An arrest on probable cause is the beginning of the legal process, not the end.

What His Defense Team Is Saying

It is important to note that d4vd has not been convicted of anything. His legal team moved quickly after the arrest.

D4vd’s attorneys Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter released a statement reading: “Let us be clear, the actual evidence in this case will show that David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez and he was not the cause of her death. There has been no indictment returned by any grand jury in this case and no criminal complaint filed. David has only been detained under suspicion. We will vigorously defend David’s innocence.” The Hollywood Reporter

Everyone accused of a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. That principle matters, and it applies here too.

What Happened to d4vd’s Music Career?

The fallout on the music side has been swift and extensive.

After the discovery of the body, d4vd canceled the last two dates on his U.S. tour and multiple dates on his European tour. Billboard

Kali Uchis sought removal of their collaboration song “Crashing” from streaming platforms. Wikipedia That collaboration had been one of the highlights of his debut album.

In a strange and grim footnote, during the investigation, Burke’s music streams on Spotify doubled from the previous week. Wikipedia That is a deeply uncomfortable reality of the internet age. Controversy, even of the most serious kind, drives clicks.

In 2025, Burke became the top searched musician and overall person on Google. Wikipedia

A Story That Is Still Unfolding

What happened to d4vd is not a finished story. As of April 17, 2026, he is being held without bail. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is reviewing the case to determine whether to formally file charges. A grand jury has been hearing evidence for months.

At the center of all of this is Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a 14 year old girl from Lake Elsinore who deserved to grow up. Her family, her community, and a watching world are waiting for answers.

The rise of d4vd was a story people celebrated. What comes next will play out in a courtroom, not on a stage. And whatever the outcome of the legal process, the life that was lost in this story belongs to a teenage girl who had her whole life ahead of her.

If you found this article helpful, share it with someone who has been following this story. And if you have been affected by topics in this article, please reach out to a trusted person or a support line in your area.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What happened to d4vd? D4vd, real name David Anthony Burke, was arrested on April 16, 2026, on suspicion of murdering 14 year old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose body was found in the trunk of his Tesla in September 2025. He is being held without bail.

2. Who is d4vd? D4vd is a 21 year old American singer and songwriter from Houston, Texas. He rose to fame with his 2022 hit “Romantic Homicide,” which peaked at No. 33 on the Billboard Hot 100. He released his debut album, Withered, in April 2025.

3. Who is Celeste Rivas Hernandez? Celeste Rivas Hernandez was a 14 year old girl from Lake Elsinore, California. She was reported missing multiple times in 2024. Her decomposed remains were found in September 2025 inside a Tesla registered to d4vd.

4. Has d4vd been convicted? No. As of April 17, 2026, d4vd has been arrested on suspicion of murder but has not been charged or convicted. His attorneys deny that he murdered Celeste Rivas Hernandez and say they will defend his innocence.

5. Where was Celeste Rivas found? Her body was found inside the front trunk of a Tesla that had been impounded and towed to a Hollywood tow yard. A tow yard worker reported a foul odor, which led investigators to the car.

6. Why did d4vd cancel his tour? D4vd canceled the remaining dates on his Withered world tour in September 2025, shortly after Celeste’s body was identified and connected to him. Multiple European and Australian dates were also canceled.

7. What did investigators find at d4vd’s Hollywood Hills home? Investigators executed a search warrant on September 18, 2025, and seized electronic devices including a computer. A private investigator separately reported finding a burn cage incinerator on the property.

8. Did d4vd know Celeste Rivas Hernandez personally? Investigators and media reports suggest a personal connection. According to CNN’s investigation, Celeste appeared in d4vd’s livestreams, was photographed backstage at one of his concerts, and reportedly had matching tattoos with him. Her family said she had a boyfriend named “David.”

9. What is the current status of the case? As of April 17, 2026, d4vd is being held without bail. The LAPD is presenting the case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. No formal charges have been filed yet.

10. What happened to d4vd’s music on streaming platforms? Kali Uchis requested the removal of her collaboration with d4vd, “Crashing,” from streaming platforms. Some of his other music remains available, though his streaming numbers fluctuated significantly during the investigation.

Author Bio: Jamie Reyes is a music and culture writer with over seven years of experience covering the entertainment industry. Jamie specializes in artist profiles, breaking music news, and investigative reporting on the intersection of pop culture and crime. Their work has appeared in several digital publications covering Gen Z music trends.

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